• Approximately 13,000 (50%) out of 25,600 incarcerated offenders have a history of, or are currently exhibiting some form of mental illness. Of the 2,650 female offenders, 1,840 (69%) and of the 22,950 male offenders, 11,070 (48%) fall in that category. Approximately 6,500 (26%) of the total population, 1400 (52%) females and 5,175 (23%) males, currently exhibit symptoms of a serious mental illness, given the most conservative definition. And approximately 20% of those with serious mental illness refuse treatment, sometimes creating serious management problems. Since 1998, the number of offenders receiving psychotropic medications has dramatically increased (300%), while the total inmate population has only increased 19%.


• A January 2011 study revealed overall, 50% of offenders with some form of mental illness were incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Of the mentally ill females, 60% were incarcerated for non-violent crimes, and of the males, 42% were incarcerated for non-violent crimes. Of all offenders with a mental illness, 29% were first-time offenders with no prior crimes.


• The exact costs of mental health services for DOC offenders is very difficult to calculate, given all the indirect costs of medical services, housing, food, security, programs, etc. In addition, the costs for mental health services in private prisons are not available, although they are included in the contract per diem cost. The average overall total daily costs for incarcerating prisoners vary according to security level, from $43.00 to $70.00 per day, with a median cost of $54.32 per day. In FY 2011, approximately $8,109,000 was budgeted specifically for mental health services, or $349/incarcerated offender/year. These direct costs included operational expenses, staff salaries with benefits, and psychotropic medications for offenders in the state-owned and private facilities. This budget represents approximately 1.6% of the overall DOC budget.


• The average recidivism 3 year return rate for the general population is 15.8% for females and 24.6% for males for CY 2007 releases from prison.  When looking at offenders with mental illness, however, this return rate is higher.  For females with serious mental illness (mental health levels B, C1, C2, D) the recidivism rate is 25.2%, and for males with serious mental illness the recidivism rate is 46%.